Instructions: Use the following activity worksheet to learn more about the patterns in sea surface height and how they help identify unusual patterns in ocean circulation. You will then use your completed worksheet to complete the quiz. Reading Sea Surface Heights

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Each color on the map corresponds to a sea surface height. The reds and oranges are at the high end. On this key, they show about 14 cm above the average. The blues and purples show the low end. On this key, that is about 18 cm below average. The higher the sea level height, the more heat is in that area of the ocean.

Let's compare the satellite data from 1997 and 2015. Note that the color bar key shows a range of -180 to 180 mm.

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Compare the images from 1997 and 2015. What are the similarities and differences?
Where is the area with the highest sea level height in each year and what does this mean in terms of ocean heat at this location?
Next, compare the images from 2006 to 2015.

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How are these two patterns different?
Was 2006 an El Niño year? Why or why not?
During El Niño years, lots of rain clouds form over the warm waters of the equator. Thinking about the ocean temperatures, why would this be?